I have a special valentine’s project for you! A Heart Shaped Pincushion! But part of the beauty of this tutorial is that you will be able make any size or shape pincushion because it is all based on a cookie cutter.
Note: Be sure to read all the written instructions as well as the instructions with the picture mosaics.
Supplies:
• one charm pack (really I just use a few charms for this…so a whole charm pack isn’t necessary)
• cookie cutter (clearly I used a heart shaped one…size is your preference)
• Hot Glue gun
• One sheet of fun foam (the stuff in the kid’s craft aisle)
• One sheet of a thin floral foam / Styrofoam (can be found in the floral aisle)
• One bag of Zilla brand lizard litter – crushed walnut shells (one bag will last a LONG time)
Instructions:
Cutting Fabric for the Pincushion
• Pick out your favorite charms and if necessary piece them together to create a large enough piece of fabric for your cookie cutter plus 3″ around. Then follow the directions in the mosaic below.
Cutting Foam for the Pincushion
• Use your cookie cutters to cut out the floral foam to fit exactly inside the cookie cutter. Depending on the foam you use and how sharp your cookie cutters are, you may need a little help from a kitchen knife. Then trace around the cookie cutter onto the fun foam and cut out the exact shape of the cookie cutter for the bottom of the pincushion.
Fitting the Fabric to the Cookie Cutter
• Pull your running stitch slightly to start gathering the fabric and fit it to the shape of the cookie cutter. You will want to shape it so that a small “bowl” is formed on the topside of the cookie cutter/pincushion. Use your hot glue gun and glue the fabric to the inside of the cookie cutter around the whole perimeter.
Filling the Pincushion
• Use the crushed walnut shells to fill the pincushion. Crushed shells create a great weight to the pin cushion and they help keep your pins sharp. The type I used was like a coarse sand. The amount you need will depend on the size of your cookie cutter but I used about a cup for the large one. You will want to hold up your cookie cutter while filling it to make sure that you put enough in to round out what will be the top of the pincushion…that “bowl”.
Putting the Bottom on the Pincushion
• With the charm glued firmly in place, there should be no chance of any filling escaping. But we have two more layers to add to the bottom to make it completely finished and polished. First add the floral foam and hot glue in place. I found that the hot glue actually melted my foam a bit, so I used that to my advantage and created a perfect seal around the perimeter. Then I used hot glue on the fun foam and attached it firmly to the floral foam.
Finishing Details
• You may find you have a bit of a gap now at the bottom of your pincushion or things are not as tidy as you might like. So make it all beautiful again by hot gluing a bit of ribbon or trim around the perimeter of the base.
• Fill with pins and use often! Make them in all shapes and sizes. I made a smaller one for my needles as well. (Although I’m thinking of putting some felt on that one)
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and are inspired to make a pincushion for every season. I’ve already bought more cookie cutters to make more!
I am always looking for a new pin cushion idea, this is great thanks
Conversation Hearts…best thing about Valentine's Day!
Thank you for this great tutorial! I love everything you do!!!
I am a follower!
What a great pincushion idea. I'm definitely going to try it. I love Valentines Day because I love reminding my husband/kids/friends how special they are to me.
I'm not a big fan of cards but I do buy one for my husband, for our anniversary. He must be a sentimentalist because he saves them all! He always brings me flowers for Valentines Day an d I cook him his favorite meal.
Just became a follower. I am definitely going to try the pincusion. Very clever idea using a cookie cutter!
nice tutorial thanks for sharing
I love Valentines day but my hubby doesn't get into it too much. guess he is like your husband.
love to win the giveaway thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
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ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Charming pin cushion!
As a retired elementary teacher, my favorite part regarding Valentine's Day was when the students excitedly opened their valentines from their fellow classmates! 🙂
This is so cute! I never would have thought of using a cookie cutter this way. Gotta try it. I am a follower, btw.
I agree with your hubby that Valentine's Day does seem to be an arbitrary, commercial boondoggle. Wow, I'm such a romantic! But my husband and I usually have a nice dinner together at home, and drink a toast from our wedding toast glasses.
I love your heart pincushions. What a great idea. We don't celebrate Valentine's day in our house either!
I'm a happy follower here at Cut to Pieces! Love your projects you show us!
Love, love the pincushion! Thanks for the great tutorial! 🙂
Thanks, I love the shape of hearts!
My favorite thing about Valentine's day? Chocolate. Followed by steak dinners and cute valentines from my kids.
Thanks for the great idea and the giveaway. Chocolate is a good reason to have Valentine's Day!
Some years I love Valentines Day and can't wait to have a nice evening with my husband then other years I'm just too tired to care. Very cute pin cusion – Thanks!
Love the pincushion!! Thanks for the tutorial! 🙂
I'm not a big fan of Valentine's either… I think is's a Hershey & Hallmark holiday. Hubby & I long ago decided that we can go out to dinner, give flowers and gifts any other day for way less money.
Thanks for a chance to win! 🙂
I'm a follower of your blog! 🙂
I like that people are thinking of others and wanting to gift to others. I like all the love… and the sugar.
Am a follower
Don't do much on the holidays itself, but will help a daughter celebrate her birthday the day after!
I love Valentine's day. All the flowers and candy and everyone loving everyone else.
Great tutorial! Mmm. v day is mixed for me. I like the idea of a day to celebrate those we love, but it seems forced. I like it when it's an organic thought or gesture…..
Cute pin cushion !!! I guess I am a romantic at heart……. : )
I'm a follower.
I love your pincushion tutorial. Pincushions are something I collect. I love to make heart shaped cookies on Valentines day. I remember spending the day with my children decorating their hearts.
Thanks for the tutorial! I love Valentine's day… my husband and I always make a point of finding a babysitter and going out for a date night. It doesn't happen nearly often enough so I am grateful for any holiday that makes it 'expected'!!!
And I am a follower!
Being in a family of a florist, I'm just glad when it's over honestly! lol! It's not a very fun day for this side….sorry to spoil the Love at all! 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
I'm a follower! 🙂
Sorry I'm a bit of a latecomer to this post, if it's still open I'd love to enter too… I hate it when your fave restaurant charges twice as much just because it's valentines day :o(
My favorite thing is spending time with my husband.
I'm a follower.
Such a sweet project! Perfect for a teacher!
I am a follower!
I'm not so into the commercialism of Valentine's Day, but I do love the sentiment.
I love receiving chocolate covered strawberries from my husband for Valentine's Day!
I just followed your blog! 🙂 Thank you for the tutorial! I love discovering new blogs!
Gorgeous little pincushion…thanks for the tutorial
I'm a follower by mail 🙂
My favorite thing is putting together little surprises for my kids. They look forward to them every year
We don't get too caught up in Valentine's Day, but we do exchange chocolate! Any excuse for chocolate is a good one!
I am a long-time follower … and I see several different shaped pin cushions in my future! Thanks for the great idea and tutorial!
Lovely idea – thanks for the tutorial. It really annoys me how much the florsit raise the price of flowers for valentines day
I like Valentine's Day, but I don't like the long lines at the restaurants, so we usually go out a different day. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Valentine's Day!
I actually like celebrating Valentines Day with my husband since we limit it only to funny gifts so there's no pressure!
I follow you!